WO2015047198A1

WO2015047198A1 - System and method for obtaining and displaying real time information on a vacant parking space

Info

Publication number: WO2015047198A1
Application number: PCT/SI2014/000056
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mitja ŠAJATOVIČ
Original assignee: Šajatovič Mitja
Priority date: 2013-09-30
Filing date: 2014-09-29
Publication date: 2015-04-02
Also published as: SI24487A

Abstract

The system and the method of the invention determine a manner of individualising and identifying an individual parking space with alphanumerical signs that are registered in a common database, in which "unpaid" is set as a default status. When a person occupies a parking space designated with an individual ID, he enters this ID into a parking meter provided with an alphanumerical keypad, or alternatively via smart phone mobile application which allows a graphical and list display of collected and processed information, and pays the parking fee. The database, which has default settings for all parking spaces set to "unpaid", receives information on the payment for an individual parking space and on the leased time for it, processes the data and changes the status of the parking space with this ID to "paid". These data are analogously used as information on an occupied parking space. After the parking lease time for this parking space has expired, the database automatically changes the status back to "unpaid", these data are analogously used as information on a vacant parking space or as information on alleged violation.

Description

System and method for obtaining and displaying real time information on a vacant parking space

Object of Invention

The object of the invention is a system and a method for obtaining and displaying real time information on a vacant parking space through obtaining real time information on paid and unpaid parking spaces. The system provides for a rapid and precise search and location of a vacant parking space and provides for a remote parking fee payment. All data are stored in a database accessible to an end user through a dedicated mobile smart phone application and through a web page.

Technical Problem

Search for a parking space is a global problem encountered by each driver. Apart from a search for a vacant parking space there is another huge problem, namely precise identification whether parking fee was paid, or not. Several parking systems and complex devices have been developed that were supposed to make the mentioned problems easier. At first, parking fee was collected by persons, later on, the number of cars increased to such an extent that a need for an automated system for dispensing and checking parking tickets has emerged. More and more modern and user friendly parking meters have been developed especially in public parking facilities. All hjtherto known systems require installation of various sensors, cameras, licence plate readers, on the basis of which a database obtains information with the purpose of forwarding them to an end user, most often via a mobile phone. These systems are very expensive and economically unprofitable as a huge number of individual mechanical units need to be installed, such as cameras, sensors, etc., that need repair and are often targets of vandals.

So there was a need for a development of a simple and economic system that would provide for an accurate supervision over paid and unpaid and consequently over vacant and occupied parking spaces to end users who may be persons searching for a parking space or traffic wardens.

Prior Art

In patent application WO2012077086, search for vacant parking spaces is linked to an individual user who gets information about a vacant parking space and reports its location as accurately as possible to a parking report. It also has a dedicated application that provides for sending data on the current individual's geographical location, a processor processes these data and publishes in a parking report that a vacant parking space is available somewhere in the vicinity of this spot. For motivating and encouraging users to report about vacant parking spaces and to provide trusty information, a system for crediting users is foreseen. In practice, this system is very unreliable as it is linked to willingness and time of individuals to report a more or less accurate location of a vacant parking space, however, nobody reports when this space gets occupied unless this is done by the user occupying this space. Locations of parking spaces are entered into a parking report by each person individually when he wants to rent a space. This is a huge disadvantage as there is no precise control over a number of vacant and occupied parking spaces, over the exact location, over the payment status and the parking time, all this due to the fact that the entire system depends on interaction and activity of individuals. The system is meant more for private parking facilities but should be applicable for public parking facilities subject to payment as well. It is foreseen that a vehicle is registered into a database with a licence plate number and the data on the make of a vehicle. A user pays the parking fee via an application and leaves the vehicle in a public parking facility. When a parking attendant reaches the vehicle, he must enter the licence plate number of the vehicle into the system, the system displays a report on whether parking fee was paid for this vehicle or not and whether the fee is still valid. A problem of this solution lies in that a parking attendant must always carry a special application with him and enter each vehicle without a parking ticket into the system to check whether such vehicle is registered, whether the parking fee for it has been paid, whether the parking fee is still valid; all this is very time consuming and the time needed for supervision of proper parking is considerably extended.

Patent US8374910 discloses a system that, for proper operation, needs personal data of an individual, his credit card data or data on other modes of payment, and data on a parking space, said data being constantly compared with the purpose of detecting violation. An individual is requested to check in when he parks his car on a parking space and to check out when he leaves it. In case of a too late check-out, the system sends an enforcement alert to a parking attendant which space has not checked out, so he may fine a driver for violation. To identify a vacant parking space the system foresees dedicated sensors that detect presence of a vehicle. This system is designed to detect and fine a vehicle, whereas information on vacant parking spaces is offered as an additional option possible due to sensor installations.

A system of patent US6750786 foresees an exchange of information on vacant and occupied parking spaces on closed parking facilities via dedicated sensors, such as cameras, motion sensors, presence sensors, etc. This system is unpractical as it is limited only to closed units that need a great number of dedicated vehicle presence sensors for obtaining relevant information.

Other systems offer a possibility of obtaining information in a non-mechanical way: a user registers with his vehicle into a mobile application with a vehicle licence p!ate number and if need may be with other personal data, with which he is identified in traffic and consequently on a parking space. A parking fee is then paid through a mobile phone and when traffic wardens, parking attendants or enforcement officers, who check proper parking, approach a vehicle, they check the records to see whether the parking fee was paid for this vehicle and whether it is still valid. This system is very time consuming and impractical for a huge number of vehicles as a traffic warden or a parking attendant needs to manually enter the licence plate of each individual vehicle into the database and perform a check.

According to patent application EP2136346 a special vehicle is intended to search for vacant parking spaces. While driving, this vehicle scans the road and searches for a vacant parking space among occupied parking spaces and when one space is found, its location is reported to a database. This system is very expensive and impractical, as much mechanical equipment, a driver. and a special modified dedicated vehicle are required.

Said systems and methods are focused either on ways of collecting parking fee or on physical presence of a vehicle on a generically defined parking space, and cameras, sensors, licence plate readers and the like are used for identification and individualisation; or a dedicated mobile application is required, into which a vehicle is to be registered with its licence plate and other necessary data on a driver and a vehicle.

Solution to the Technical Problem

The mentioned technical problem is solved by a system and a method of the invention. The object of the invention is a system and a method for obtaining real time information on paid and unpaid parking spaces that are stored in a database and are accessible to an end user, who can be a parking space user or a traffic warden, through a dedicated smart phone mobile application or a web page.

The system and the method of the invention are based on a system of an alphanumerical combination of letters and numbers, with which the floor of each parking space is marked. Each parking space thus has a unique ID. These unique IDs are then entered into a database. The unique ID is used to define additional information or data that are entered into the database and processed in the database, such as size of a parking space with respect to whether it is intended for buses, trucks, personal vehicles or motors, price of a parking space which may vary for these vehicles, time of lease of an individual parking space, location of an individual parking space, price list, parking space working hours, as each parking meter can operate at different hours which are subject to payment and at hours which are free of charge.

A default status for an individual parking space is set in the database to »unpaid«. When an individual or user occupies a parking space designated with a unique ID, he enters the unique ID through a parking meter equipped with an alphanumerical keypad or alternatively through a mobile application or another electronic device having internet access via a browser and with enabled payment through the internet, and by entering the unique ID pays the parking fee. The data on the unique ID and on the lease time of a parking space are transmitted to the database. The database receives from a user the data on the unique ID, on the payment of a certain parking space and on the parking lease time, processes the entered data together with added data linked to the unique ID of the parking space or defined by the unique ID, and changes the status for the parking space with this ID to »paid«. These data are analogously used as information on an occupied parking space. The occupied parking space has the status »paid« and a vacant parking space has the status »unpaid«. After the parking lease time for this parking space has expired, the database automatically changes the status back to »unpaid«, these data are analogously used as information on a vacant parking space or as information on alleged violation, provided parking was done properly, namely that the vehicle was parked on a vacant parking space and the parking fee for the desired time was paid, or that the parking space is vacant at the latest upon expiration of the leased time. The information is accessible in the form of a list and graphically via a mobile application or via a web page.

The system of the invention includes: parking spaces with unique alphanumerical ID designations;

database with all registered parking spaces having a status »paid« or »unpaid« and with additional data defined by the unique !D, wherein the database is connected via internet connection to the internet and the database has a default setting for an individual parking space to »unpaid«; the status »unpaid« which is set as default allows a semi-automatic operation of the system, namely a user manually enters the unique ID of the parking space that he occupies and thus provides trusty information when a certain space is occupied, the status changes to »paid« and the system automatically, after the leased time has expired, changes the status back to »unpaid«;

a parking meter with an embedded alphanumerical keypad that is linked with the database of registered parking spaces via internet connection;

mobile smart phone application and/or another electronic device having access to the internet and enabled payment through the internet via one of the available options that support public mobile communication networks, e. g. GPRS, 3G, 4G or another data network, for instance WI-FI;

web page that is constantly updated and shows on a map or a list the status of individual parking spaces as »paid«/«unpaid« and thus occupied/vacant parking spaces.

The method of the invention includes: designation of each individual parking space included in the system by unique alfanumerical ID designations;

registration and entry of unique IDs of all registered parking spaces and additional data that are defined by a unique ID into the database, and determination of the default status »unpaid«;

entry by users of a unique ID of an occupied parking space and payment of parking fee into the database via a parking meter or via mobile smart phone application or via another electronic device having access to the internet via one of the available options that support public mobile communication networks, e. g. GPRS, 3G, 4G or another data network, e. g. WI- FI;

- processing in the database of the data linked to a unique ID of a parking space on the payment of a certain parking space, on the leased time therefore and on additional data defined by a unique ID, and the change of status in the database for a parking space with this ID into »paid«;

monitoring the use of the leased time for a parking space;

after the leased time for a parking space with this ID has expired, the status in the database is automatically changed to »unpaid«;

permanent updating of the database based on the entry of data by users;

display of data in the form of a list or graphically on the status »paid«/«unpaid« and thus on occupied/vacant parking spaces on the web page or via mobile application.

The invention will be described by way of drawings and embodiments.

Figure 1 shows the system of the invention

Each individual parking space 1 is designated with unique and individual alphanumerical ID designations 6, hereinafter unique ID 6, and entered and registered as such into a database 10. The designation system provides for registration, identification and individualisation of an exactly defined parking space 1 in the database 10 with a unique ID 6. A parking meter 7 is provided with an alfanumerical keypad 8 which may be physical or programme-like, through which a user enters into the parking meter a unique ID 6 of the parking space 1, on which he parked his vehicle and inserts the amount of money required for the desired time of parking. As a payment receipt 41 the parking meter 7 issues a parking ticket 4. The data from the parking meter 7 are transmitted through an internet connection 14 to the database 10.

Alternatively, the user has a possibility of using a mobile application 3 via a smart phone 5, wherein also a unique ID 6 of a parking space 1, on which he parked his vehicle is entered and the user pays for a desired time of parking an amount via non-cash prepayment system offered by the mobile application 3, such as an account. For a proper operation of the mobile application 3 an active internet connection 14 and an active mobile number 15 are needed. A user registers with his mobile number 15 into a database of users 11 upon first startup when the mobile application 3 is downloaded. When the mobile application 3 is used, a payment receipt 41 is issued in the form of a digital certificate 42 which is stored into the history of payments effected through the mobile application 3.

Alternatively, the user may use a phone, either a smart phone or an ordinary phone, enabled to use short text messages or SMS 16 in a way that the user enters a keyword 17, a unique ID 6 of a parking space 1 and the amount in the counter value of a leased parking time, for which he wants to pay the parking fee and sends these to a certain phone number linked to the database 10. The mobile operator issues a payment receipt 41 with adequate data on the leased time and the unique ID 6 of the parking space 1 in the form of a return SMS 43.

In a way as described above, the user reports to the database 10, for which parking space 1 out of all registered spaces he paid the parking fee and for how long. If dispute arises, this payment receipt 41 is produced or submitted as evidence to a traffic warden 21, a parking attendant or other competent authorities.

Default settings for all registered parking spaces 1 in the database 10 are set to »unpaid«, which is displayed on a map 19 in the mobile application 3 and on a web page 52 graphically or in colours, for instance in a green colour. When the user enters a unique ID 6 of a parking space 1 into a parking meter 7, a mobile application 3, via an SMS 16 or into other devices having internet access and pays the parking fee for this space, the status for this individual parking space 1 in the database 10 changes the status to »paid«, and on the map 19 and on the web page 52 the graphics or the colour changes, for instance to red, consequently, the countdown of the leased time is initiated. A certain time, for instance 10 minutes before the expiration of the leased time of the parking space 1, a changed graphics or colour, for instance an orange colour, is displayed on the map 19 and on the web page 52 for this parking space 1, which is a message to the user that the status of the parking space 1 will soon be changed to »unpaid«. Upon expiration of the total leased time, the status for this parking space 1 in the database 10 is automatically changed to »unpaid« and the map 19 and the web page 52 display adequate graphics or colour, for instance a green colour. The data on the status of parking spaces are shown not only on the map 19 but also in the form of a list 20.

The system logs the data about which parking space is paid for and which is not. Ideally, a user should pay a parking space 1 for the time, for which he occupied it, and should either remove the vehicle after the expiration of the leased time and thus make the parking space 1 vacant or pay for an additional quantity of time. The system logs and indicates with a red colour which parking space is paid for, which means there is high probability of a vehicle being parked there, and which parking space is not paid for, which means there is high probability of the parking space being vacant, which is indicated in a green colour. If a parking space 1 is occupied yet not paid, a user may use his mobile application 3 to notify traffic wardens 21 or parking attendants about a unique ID 6 of a parking space 1 which is occupied yet not paid, which means that the vehicle is most probably violating the law. If a parking space 1 is marked as paid yet vacant, this means that a user may leave his car on this space until the expiration of the remaining quantity of the time, for which it has been paid for and then he must either lease another quantity of time or remove the vehicle, otherwise he will violate the law. To purchase a new, additional quantity of time, the method needs to be repeated either via a parking meter 7 personally or remotely via a mobile application 3, an SMS 16 or another device having internet access.

The mobile application 3 exchanges data with the database 10 of registered parking spaces 1 via the internet connection 14. It is thus provided for a continuous and updated display of the list 20 and the map 19 of paid and unpaid parking spaces 1 with their unique alphanumerical ID 6 designations, a location and a leased time for an individual parking space, valid tariff for an individual parking space 1 or parking zone, possibility of setting an alarm prior to the expiration of the leased time, prepayment system, via which the parking fee can be paid, digital certificate 42 of the paid parking fee and the history of paid parking fees from a mobile number 15, from which an individual user has registered into the user database 11.

The system further allows the traffic wardens or parking attendants to supervise through the mobile application 3 which parking spaces 1 are paid for and which are not, and they can thus immediately identify vehicles or users that violate the law.

The system provides the users with an overview over paid and unpaid parking spaces 1 and consequently over vacant and occupied parking spaces 1 which can be easily and immediately located via the map 19 and the list 20 in the smart phone 5 mobile application 3. This results in a shorter time needed for searching for a parking space 1 and for remote payment for it.

Depending on requirements and needs, the system is suitable both for anonymous users and users registered with their personal data, and for parking regimes, in which the parking fee prices are both fixed and dynamic. The system is designed for payable open public parking facilities equipped with parking meters, for payable closed public parking facilities equipped with a parking meter and a barrier, for open and closed private parking facilities and for multi-storey car parks.

Examples of embodiments

To begin with, the floor of dedicated parking spaces, on which the system and the method will be applied, need to be marked with individual alphanumerical signs. The parking spaces thus get unique IDs that are entered into a database. Payable parking spaces normally have parking meters that need to be equipped with an alphanumerical keypad. Each parking space can have various data in the database: on payment status, location, lease time, payer, tariff ...

Embodiment 1:

A user reaches a parking space 1 designated with a unique ID 6, approaches a parking meter 7 and enters the unique ID 6 by way of an alphanumerical keypad 8, and pays a parking fee for a desired time of parking. The parking meter 7 issues a parking ticket 4 as a receipt on the payment of the parking fee 41. The data on the unique ID 6 of a parking space and the lease time are entered via the parking meter 7 into a database 10 that is connected to the internet and is therefore continuously updated and allows a display of real time information on a vacant parking space via a web page 52.

Embodiment 2:

A user uses a mobile application 3 that displays paid and unpaid parking spaces recorded in a database 10 on a map 19. The application uses these data as a basis for displaying information about vacant and occupied parking spaces. When a user locates a desired parking space 1 and parks his vehicle on it, he enters a unique ID 6 of a parking space 1, on which the vehicle is located, into the mobile application 3 and pays, via the mobile application 3, a parking fee for a desired time of parking. The mobile application 3 then issues a digital certificate 42 as a receipt on the parking fee payment 41. The data on the unique ID 6 of a parking space and the lease time are entered into the database 10 via the mobile application 3 via internet connection 14; the database gets continuously updated and allows a display of real time information about a vacant parking space via the web page 52 and the map 19.

Embodiment 3:

A user parks his vehicle on a parking space designated with a unique ID 6 and effects payment of a parking fee via an SMS 16 by first entering a certain keyword 17, the parking space unique ID 6, the quantity of money in the counter value of the leased time, and sends the SMS. The phone receives a return SMS 43 as a receipt on the payment of parking fee 41. The data sent via the SMS 16 to a phone number linked to a database 10 are adequately processed by the database and the status of a relevant parking space is changed for the leased time from »unpaid« to »paid«, which is displayed to the users on a web page 52 and on a map 19, and on a list 20 to smart phone 5 users.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining and displaying real time information on a vacant parking space characterized by including:

parking spaces (1) with unique and individual a!phanurnerica! ID designations (6);

a database (10) with all registered parking spaces (1) having a status «paid« or »unpaid« and with all additional data defined with a unique ID (6), wherein the database (10) is connected to the internet via an internet connection (14);

a parking meter (7) with an embedded alphanumerical keypad (8) and connected via internet connection (14) with the database (10) of registered parking spaces (1);

a mobile application (3) for smart phone and/or another electronic device having access to the internet and enabled payment through the internet via one of the available options that support public mobile communication networks, e. g. GPRS, 3G, 4G or another data network, for instance WI-FI;

a web page (52) that is constantly updated and shows on a map (19) and a list (20) the status of individual parking spaces as »paid«/«unpaid« and thus occupied/vacant parking spaces.

2. The system according to claim 1 characterized in that the unique ID (6) defines additional data in the database (10), namely a size of an individual parking space, price of an individual parking space, lease time, location of an individual parking space, tariff, operating time of a parking space.

3. The system according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the mobile application (3) exchanges the data with the database (10) of registered parking spaces (1) via internet connection (14), wherein the display of a list (20) and a map (19) of paid and unpaid parking spaces (1) with their unique IDs (6), location and the leased time for each individual parking space (1), valid tariff for a parking space (1) or parking zone is continuously updated, the mobile application (3) further comprising a possibility of setting an alarm prior to the expiration of the leased time, prepayment system, via which parking fee is paid, issuance of a digital certificate (42) for paid parking fee and display of a history of paid parking fees from a mobile number (15), from which an individual user registered into a user database (11).

4. The system according to claims 1, 2 and 3 characterized in that the database (10) has the status »unpaid« set as a default setting for all parking spaces (1).

5. The system according to claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 characterized in that the adequate status of a parking space (1) »unpaid« and »paid« and a certain time prior to the expiration of the leased time of a parking space (1) is shown on the map (19) and on the list (20) in the mobile application (3) and on the web page (52) graphically or in a colour.

6. A method for obtaining and displaying real time information on a vacant parking space characterized by including:

designation of each individual parking space (1) included in the system by unique alphanumerical ID designations (6);

registration and entry of unique IDs (6) of all registered parking spaces (1) and additional data that are defined by a unique ID into the database, and determination of the default status »unpaid«;

entry by users of a unique ID (6) of an occupied parking space (1) and payment of parking fee (41) into the database (10) via a parking meter (7) with a built-in alphanumerical keypad (8) or via mobile application (3) for smart phone or via another electronic device having access to the internet via one of the available options that support public mobile communication networks, e. g. GPRS, 3G, 4G or another data network, for instance WI-FI and via short text messages or SMS (16) by entering a keyword (17) to a certain phone number;

processing in the database (10) of the data on the payment of the parking fee (41) for a certain parking space (1), on the leased time therefor and additional data defined by a unique ID (6), and the change of status in the database (10) for a parking space with this ID into »paid«;

monitoring use of the leased time for a parking space (1);

after the leased time for a parking space with this ID has expired, the status in the database (10) is automatically changed to »unpaid«;

permanent updating of the database (10) based on the entry of data by users;

display and monitoring of data in the form of a list (20) or map (19), graphically and/or in a colour, about the status »paid«/«unpaid« and thus about occupied/vacant parking spaces on the web page (52) or via mobile application (3).

7. The method according to claim 6 characterized in that designation of each parking space (1) is based on a system of an alphanumerical combination of letters and numbers, with which the floor of each parking space (1) is marked.

8. The method according to claims 6 and 7 characterized in that the unique ID (6) defines additional data that are entered into the database (10) and processed in the database (10), namely a size of an individual parking space, price of an individual parking space, lease time of an individual parking space, location of an individual parking space, tariff, operating time of a parking space.

9. The method according to claims 6, 7 and 8 characterized in that the display of data on the status »paid«/«unpaid« is used as information on occupied/vacant parking spaces (1).